Solid state battery having mismatched battery cells

Abstract

A solid-state, mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being a predefined resistance that is less than the first internal resistance. One or more of electrical connectors electrically couple the first and second battery cells. A casing encloses the first and second battery cells. A pair of terminals is electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
 (a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer with a first internal resistance; 
 (b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer with a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being less than the first internal resistance, and such that a ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2; 
 (c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells; 
 (d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and 
 (e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load. 
 
     
     
       2. A battery according to  claim 1  comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and 
 (ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω. 
 
     
     
       3. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first battery cell has a first internal resistance per unit active area, and the second battery cell has a second internal resistance per unit active area. 
     
     
       4. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel. 
     
     
       5. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first battery cell comprises a first maximum current density and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second maximum current density which is larger than the first maximum current density. 
     
     
       6. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and wherein the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness and the second cathode thickness is less than the first cathode thickness. 
     
     
       7. A battery according to  claim 6  comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%; 
 (ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and 
 (iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns. 
 
     
     
       8. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second battery cells comprise at least one of:
 (i) a plurality of the first or second battery cells; 
 (ii) lithium battery cells; and 
 (iii) battery component layers having a thickness of less than about 100 microns. 
 
     
     
       9. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second electrolyte layers are composed of LiPON. 
     
     
       10. A battery according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second battery cells comprise a cathode composed of LiCoO 2 . 
     
     
       11. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
 (a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer composed of LiPON with a first internal resistance; 
 (b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer composed of LiPON with a second internal resistance, wherein the ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2; 
 (c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells; 
 (d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and 
 (e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load. 
 
     
     
       12. A battery according to  claim 11  comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and 
 (ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω. 
 
     
     
       13. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
 (a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer (i) composed of LiPON, (ii) having a first thickness, and (iii) having a first internal resistance; 
 (b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer (i) composed of LiPON, (ii) having a second thickness than is different from the first thickness, and (iii) having a second internal resistance such that a ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2; 
 (c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells; 
 (d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and 
 (e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load. 
 
     
     
       14. A battery according to  claim 13  wherein the first battery cell comprises a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second cathode thickness that is less than the first cathode thickness. 
     
     
       15. A battery according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second cathodes are composed of LiCoO 2 . 
     
     
       16. A battery according to  claim 11  wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel. 
     
     
       17. A battery according to  claim 11  wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%; 
 (ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and 
 (iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns. 
 
     
     
       18. A battery according to  claim 13  comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and 
 (ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω. 
 
     
     
       19. A battery according to  claim 13  wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel. 
     
     
       20. A battery according to  claim 13  wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and comprising at least one of the following:
 (i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%; 
 (ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and 
 (iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns.